The passing of Jim Clarke has left another void in Kildare GAA circles, not least in his home club, Ballymore Eustace, of which he was immensely and passionately proud.
Wearing the No. 4 shirt, Jim was a member of the Kildare team which won the Leinster senior Final in 1956. He was manager of the Kildare team which won the All-Ireland U21 title in 1965 as well as Leinster championship successes in the following two years. He also managed the Lilywhite minors to a Leinster title in 1973.
Jim also won several county titles as a player at all grades with his club. Having won Junior and Intermediate titles, the club’s senior championship final win over Carbury, (1-6 to 1-5) in 1953, was a standout victory for the men wearing the green and gold colours, Jim scoring the winning goal.
A lifelong Pioneer, he was a keen handball player and advocated unceasingly for the ancient code of hardball, the original type of the sport before softball and the international 40 x 20 code became more popular. He was instrumental in many of the developments in the Ballymore Handball Club. And if anyone whom he knew tried to pass by the annual county handball collection point on county football final day, Jim would ensure that the collection would be all the greater due to his diligence.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
